Sheet material.



Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. A. GULICK.

SHEET MATERIAL.

n mw. qhllllhmvmlUHHlxlHHHU lm w WM f L m IIIIIIIIIII 1 E n n IHH @yAPPLICATION FILED 1UL Y l, 1915.

E. A. GULICK.

SHEET MATERIAL. APP1|CAT10N F|LE`n1uLY1,1915.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AT. .T OFFICE.

EDMQ'ND A. GULICK, OFLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

sanar MATERIAL.

To all/whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND A. GULIGK,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the countyof Los Angeles 5 and State of California, have-invented new and usefulImprovements in Sheet Material, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a sheet material and particularly pertains toa sheet material `which isespeclally adapted for use in the manufactureof plant protectors, and the like.

It is the object of this invention to provide a sheet material as anarticle of manufacture which is non-absorptive, translucent and providedwith air insulation, so that when formed-as a plant protector it willoperate to exclude excessive moisture,v admit the necessary light, andprotect the plants from injury by heat, cold or frost.

Another object is to provide a sheet material of the above characterwhich is'iexible and whichv has a reinforcement incorporated therein bywhich the material is strengthened, and which will maintain the materialin any shape into which it may be formed.

Another object is to provide a flexible and semi-rigid reinforcingmember for the sheet material, which will not warp or twist the sheetduring the process of manufacture but .which is pliable and adapted tobe bent into and to'remain in will permit the sheet being smoothed orstraightened into its normal substantially Hat condition after havingbeen bent or .crumpled Another object is to provide a wire reinforcementfor the sheet material which is so shaped that it may be securelyattached Q to the sheet by an adhesive or cementitious substance.

A further object is tecting material which subject to breakage or easilydamaged in handling, or excessively injured by contact with the soil,and that it canbe particularly and economically used in the propagationof vegetables and other plants having little initial value.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the sheet of material. Fig. 2 is adetail with portions broken away from a portion of the l5 sheet showingthe manner of reinforcing the same. Fig. 3 is a'deta-il view inv sectionon to provide a plant pro- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led July 1,

various shapes and .which is durable and not which is inexpensive so.

1915. serial No. 57,514.

the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the air insulating space formed in thesheet. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views illustrating the sheet-asformed into plant protectors of "arlous shapes.

In carrying out the present invention the sheet 1s preferably formed oftwo layers, 7 and 8, of paper or similar material so treated as to betranslucent and non-absorptive in character; the paper being of suchquality and texture that it may be readily'bent into varlous shapes andfolded upon itself without breaking.

Interposed between the paper layers 7 and 8 are reinforcing members 9and 10 which are preferably arranged to extend laterally andlongitudinally of the sheet as shown in Fig. 1. The reinforcing members9 and 10 are here shown as formed of crimped or corrugated wire which isheld in place between the layers 7 and 8 by means of adhesive orcementitious substance /11 of any suitable character but which isnecessarily .iexible and non-absorbent. The reinforcing wires arearranged between the layers with their corrugations extending on theplane of the latter so that the finished material will be thin and alsoforming an irregular body which, on the sheets being adhered together,between the corrugations by the cementitious substance, will forml suchan engagement as to prevent longitudinal displacement of the wires. Thispermits a sheet of material being cut into sections .without looseningthe reinforcing wires. It is evident that the reinforcing members may bearranged in any manner in relation to each other but are hereshownextending longitudinally and laterally across each other describingrectangular spaces 12, this arrangement facilitating manufacture.Substance 11 also serves to cement the two layers of paper togetheralong the reinforcing members thereby dividing the space between thesheets into hermetically sealed compartments and thus yforming airinsulating spaces.

By forming the reinforcing members 9 and of crimped wire, buckling orwarping of the sheet in the process of manufacn#ture is V'obviatedand.by employing a wire of such character that it will normally remain inany shape in which it is bent the sheet may be smoothed orstraightenedlafter havlio plant protectors.

l While thesheet constituting the present invention is applicable forvarious uses it is especially adapted to be employed in the constructionof plant protectors and may be bent or folded into numerous shapes toprovide plant protectors of various forms. For instance, the sheet maybe folded upon itself at one edge and the ends of the transversereinforcing member J connected together to form a substantially conicalstructure as shown in Fig. 4 which, if made of a rectangular sheet, willhave projecting portions 13 on the enlarged end thereof which may beembedded in the soil to anchor the structure in position over the plantor seed to be protected. The sheet may also be bent 4to form a cylinderwith its end portions connected together or connected to a stake 14adapted to be driven into the soil to hold the cylinder in positionaround the plant. The upper end of the cylinder thus formed may be leftopen as shown or may be drawn together to exclude the light or frost.

In cases where long rows of seeds are planted the sheet may be archedthereover as shown in Fig. (3 with its edges held in place on the soilin any desired manner. It is manifest that various other forms andarrangements as well as other uses may be re-v sorted to.

By forming the sheets of layers of material which are translucent thenecessary light may be supplied to the plant and at the same timeprevent the plants from being injured by intense sun rays. rl`henon-absorbent character of the sheet renders it durable and protects theplant from eXces sive moisture during rain or in irrigating bysprinkling. By providing the sheet with air spaces the penetration ofheat or cold through the-material is retarded. By providing thereinforcing members 9 and 10 the sheet may be bent and retained invarious shapes which is facilitated by forming the reinforcing membersof crimped Wire.

It Ais manifest, however, that other forms of reinforcing members may beemployed .if desired. The use of aflexible cementpermits the `sheetbeing bent; and .'folded without injury of the cemented jointsandprevents breaking -ojfffthe sheet on sharp folds.

What I claim is: f

l. As an article of manufacture, a sheet material comprising a pair offiexiblle layers7 a series of crossed semi-rigid reinforcing membersinterposed between said layers and affixed thereto, and a cementitioussubstance embedding theQ reinforcing members dividing the material intoair insulated sections.

2. As an article of manufacture,rv a sheet materia] comprising a pair offlexible layers, a series of .rossed corrugated pliable reinforcingmembers interposed between said layers and arranged with .theircorrugations extending on the plane of the layers, and means forfastening the reinforcing members in place serving to allix the flexiblelayers together and to form air insulated spaces extending between thereinforcing members.

3. As an article Aof manufacture, a sheet material comprising a pair ofiexible layers, a series of intersecting corrugated pliable reinforcingmembers interposed betweenl said layers and arranged with theircorrugations extending on the plane of the layers, and a pliablecementitious substance joining the layers along the corrugatedreinforcing members forming the sheet into hermetically sealedcompartn'ients.

4. As an article of manufacture, a sheet material comprising a pair oflayers of flexible translucent and non-absorbing material, a series ofintersecting pliable corrugated reinforcing members interposed betweensaid layers and arranged with their corrugations extending on the planeof the layers, and a pliable eementitious substance joining the layersalong the co-rrugated reinforcing members forming the sheet withhermetically sealed sections.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

EDMUN D A. GULICK.

